Two suspects arrested for the murder of an Abilene Police Officer Don Allen have been linked to the crime by property taken from the officer's residence.
According to Abilene Police Department Chief Stan Standridge, who held a press conference Thursday evening at 8:45 p.m., The Texas Rangers and APD arrested suspects Violetta Walter, 30, and Phillip Walter, 29, at a south side apartment complex in the 1000 block of S. Clack St. in Abilene at just after 6 p.m. on Sept. 3. Both suspects, arrested on warrants obtained by the Texas Rangers, have been charged with first-degree murder, punishable by five to 99 years in prison. The bond is set at $500,000 apiece.
The investigation is still underway and evidence is being processed, Chief Standridge said.
"I still cannot discuss specifics of the investigation, but we were able to link the suspects to property taken from Don Allen’s residence," the chief said. "Additionally, physical evidence recovered at the scene has linked the suspects to the crime. While I cannot discuss the specifics, we are confident that we have taken the correct people into custody. We do not believe there are any other suspects."
Chief Standridge was with the family of Officer Allen when the arrests were made and notified them of the developments.
"All investigators have worked tirelessly on this investigation," he said. "I am grateful to all of them, and especially to the Texas Rangers. They would be standing here with me if they were not still neck deep in the investigation. I also extend my sincere thanks to the Clyde Police Department, FBI and ATF. They have walked with us through this terrible ordeal."
Don Allen will be buried this morning at 10 a.m. at Beltway in the main sanctuary. Graveside services will immediately follow at Clyde Cemetery.
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This guy should have come to San Angelo, where we're going to start sentencing crimes based on a curve set in relation to how we deal with child rape. All this guy (supposedly) did was (maybe) do something that could have (but by no means certainly) contributed to factors that lead to the demise of an adult engaged in a high risk job in a field he chose to enter, (and who for all we know, was simply careless anyway). The accused might also know something about some items or whatever from the officer's home, hypothetically.
So, I think this guy's San Angelo plea bargain deal should be a dance off. He has to prove he has the hottest dance moves under the West Texas sun to any challengers in the city during a 2 day tournament held at the Riverstage. If he loses, he has to wear a T-shirt that says "FOOL CAN'T DANCE," thereby losing "street cred."
Unless, of course, he did something related to drinking or smoking reefer, in which case he would have to pay probation fees that help keep an entire Wal-Mart's worth of "Correctional Treatment Specialists" employed and pitch in to the paychecks of our local judges and court staff. If people want to do all that, let them do it at all of the bars the city put downtown, not driving home. If they're gonna drink all night, let 'em drive home sober, and they better keep their mouths shut when they speak to power.
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PermalinkI wonder if the Governor will leave the Texas flags at half staff? Lets see if Officer Allen's death will be politicized as well.
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PermalinkWhy are they not charged with capital murder and facing the death penalty? They need a fair trial and then "hang em high".
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